city in Wisconsin
Honey bee forage in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Estimated forage here is better than about 19% of sites in Wisconsin. Against other Wisconsin sites it stands out most in fall (81st percentile) and lowest in summer (28th). Biggest nearby bee crops: cranberries (nearest 2.1 mi NW); soybeans (nearest 3.0 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 1.2 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Wisconsin Rapids?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Wisconsin Rapids, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on May 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Cranberries: about 7 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi NW, blooms late Jun – early Jul
- Soybeans: about 43 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.2 mi NW, blooms early Jul – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 7 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.8 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Wisconsin Rapids
Mostly: Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); North-Central Interior and Appalachian Rich Swamp; Laurentian-Acadian Northern Pine Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; open water 0 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 85% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Wisconsin Rapids ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 56th | 57th | 68th | 76th |
| Wisconsin | 19th | 50th | 28th | 81st |
| North Central Hardwood Forests | 12th | 63rd | 15th | 51st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Wisconsin Rapids: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Port Edwards 3 mi · Biron 4 mi · Lake Wazeecha 4 mi · Nekoosa 7 mi · Rudolph 7 mi · Vesper 9 mi
All towns in Wisconsin · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Wisconsin Rapids (44.3929, -89.8267); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.